Colchester United (U18's) 1 v 2 Rushden & Diamonds (U18's)

Saturday 15 April 2006


The Diamonds came away from Colchester with a deserved win following several good opportunities created in the game to stay in the hunt for 2nd place in the league.

Most of the first 10 minutes was played in the Rushden half and Dave Wareham was close to giving the U's the lead when his low shot from Craig Hughes's cross hit the post with the keeper beaten. Steve Opoka tried to capitalize on the rebound but his effort was deflected wide for a corner.

Wareham's shot hits the post

Rushden gradually came into the game and by midway through the half were getting a grip on midfield and beginning to create chances of their own. When the ball came out of the area from a Rushden corner Grainger was on hand to fire in a fierce strike from 25 yards that didn't clear the bar by much and on 25 minutes Antony Hughes had to produce a spectacular one handed save to push Lambley's shot over the bar as the striker let the ball run across him before delivering a sharp strike on the turn.



Hughes saves superbly from Lambley

From the corner Antony was again called into action this time low to his right as the first shot was deflected to Shaw who tried to guide the ball home from close range. Antony brought that spell of danger to an end by safely catching the second corner.

A foul by Shaw on Charlie Moxom midway in the Rushden half ten minutes before the break led to a long lecture from the referee for Grainger, whose voice had already been very prominent, after the midfielder launched the ball long and far in reaction to the decision against his teammate. Anthony Wordsworth had a shot at goal from the free kick keeping the ball low with some curve and the keeper rather awkwardly scooped the ball away before his defence cleared the danger.

As half time approached the greater pressure was coming from Rushden who were looking half a yard sharper in the 50/50 challenges and a 41st minute left wing corner taken by Shaw was met by the head of Udoji and blocked on the line by Aarun Best.

Best blocks on the line

The ball dropped to Modeste whose follow up was blocked by a combination of Best and Jamie Petts at the expense of another corner.



Modeste shoots

The opening goal came in the 44th minute when Modeste won the ball in the middle 25 or so yards out and played it through to the right hand side of the area where Lambley again allowed it to run across him but this time kept his shot low and found the far corner past Antony Hughes's dive.



Lambley slots home

Early in the second half a defensive mistake on the U's left allowed Rushden to deliver a dangerous cross for which Medine looked well placed to strike at close range but Charlie Moxom got across to rob him despite looking to start distinctly second favourite.

The game was held up for a good five minutes around the 55 minute mark after Rushden's keeper Margarson collided with Moxom as the U's wing back burst into the area. Unfortunately it may well be that Margarson has suffered a break to part of his leg, and was stretchered off and shortly after taken to Hospital by ambulance.

Margarson and Moxom collide going for a 50:50 ball

Without a keeper on the bench sub defender Sean O'Keefe took over the goalkeeping gloves, somewhat ironically given that he was sent off in the earlier League Cup tie at the Garrison for handball on the goalline, and should have been facing a penalty a few minutes later as Wark punched a corner off the head of Matt Paine. Fortunately for the centre half the referee missed it and the linesman was on the far side.

With 66 minutes on the watch Moxom, with what would be his last touch, latched onto a loose ball about 30 yards out and hammered it against the Rushden bar with O'Keefe no more than a spectator. The ball rebounded to safety and Charlie and full back partner Aarun Best were immediately replaced by two of next year's intake, Paddy Brothers and Jeremiah Olusanya.

Rushden were still a threat despite having a non specialist keeper to protect and Shaw carried the ball into the U's area on the left before shooting across Antony Hughes but wide of the far post with twenty minutes play left.

A minute later the U's broke down the right through Medi Elito and Wark again took a gamble in the box this time putting his arm in the way of the cross. Unfortunately he was in full view of the linesman who signalled the referee to grant the U's appeals for a penalty and, in what was clearly a pre arranged end of season move, up from the other end came U's keeper Antony Hughes who very competently side footed the ball about halfway up into the net while O'Keefe dived low to his right.

Colchester's Keeper v Rushden's Defender

Wark was booked before the restart, presumably for dissent, soon to be joined by Grainger who loudly directed a sarcastic appeal at the linesman a couple of minutes later.

It looked only a matter of time before O'Keefe's unconventional goalkeeping style was caught out in open play but Rushden hadn't given up hope of the win and Medine headed a left wing corner against the far post.


Medine hits the post

That was with six minutes of normal time left and with 88 minutes on the clock a Rushden clearance saw Medine outjump two U's defenders near the half way line and play the ball out to the right where Beecroft drew the undermanned defence towards him before laying the ball square to Shaw who picked his spot low down just inside the left hand post.

Shaw scores the winner

A couple of minutes earlier Medi Elito had got away down the right in a three on one break for the U's. Medi elected to steer the ball towards the far corner as he got into the box but O'Keefe stuck out a foot and deflected it wide for a corner. That, and an injury time header from Craig Hughes that drifted just wide, were as close as the U's came to a second goal but Rushden's second seemed to knock the stuffing out of the U's lads who, although another ten minutes was played, didn't look like they really believed they could get the second equaliser.

Marc Tracy commented "I was very pleased that today we demonstrated a great desire to continue right to the end, and with this came a winning goal, which was deserved.

A nervy first ten minutes was soon put to rest as we created the better chances up until the break and it was pleasing to see Lawrence Lambley finish well.

I felt that we had a good tempo and were looking comfortable. Of course an unfortunate injury to Martyn Margarson, which resulted in him being taken to Hospital, unsettled us a little bit and raised the hopes of Colchester, realising that we had no sub Goalkeeper with us. However we stood firm and credit must go to Sean O'Keefe for performing well in goal, and also to the back four that prevented him from keeping busy.

Again I felt that we had a harsh decision against us not long after Sean went in goal, and for that to happen on three consective games is hard on the players. It certainly again tested our players mentality and therefore for us to continue to look positive going forward and then scoring so late, was fully deserved.

I am pleased to report that Martyn left hospital not long after the final whistle on crutches and the injury was not as bad as first feared, which was pleasing.

Overall I was pleased with the character shown by the players and the chances we created.

Colchester United:
Antony Hughes, Charlie Moxom, Aarun Best, Tom Devaux, Matt Paine, Jamie
Petts, Tom Webb, Anthony Wordsworth, Steve Opoka, Craig Hughes and Dave
Wareham. Subs: Medi Elito (for Petts 52m), Pat Brothers (for Best 66m),
Jeremiah Olusanya (for Moxom 66m) and Liam Thomas (not used).

Rushden & Diamonds:
Martyn Margarson, Nicky Ioannou, Ben Reynolds, Daniel Grainger, Scott
Wark, Ugo Udoji, Jon Stead, Tom Shaw, Lawrence Lambley, Mo Medine and
Ricky
Modeste: Subs: Sean O'Keefe (for Margarson 61m), Jake Beecroft (for
Stead
74m) and Alex Bolt (for Ioannou 92m)

Many Thanks to Kevin Drury at http://theresonlyoneunited.fotopic.net for the photographs.